CUOMO SUPPORT FALLS A BIT IN NEW POLL

Andrew Cuomo's favorability rating has fallen
eight points in the new Siena Research Institute
poll released today. His lead against Rick Lazio and
Carl Paladino also fell by six points. Cuomo leads
Lazio 60-24 per cent, down from 66-24 on May 24.
Cuomo's lead over Paladino fell to 60 to 23 per cent,
down from 65-22. In a Republican party primary,
Lazio leads Paladino 45-18 percent. The same survey
also showed a six point drop in the favorability rating
for Senator Kirtsen Gillibrand. Senator Chuck
Schumer also saw his favorability rating falling below
60 percent for the first time ever. It's now down to
54 per cent with 32 per cent saying they don't have a
good view of him.

STATE SHUTDOWN

Senate Democrats expect to have the 32 votes
they'll need today to pass an emergency
appropriations bill that'll keep the state running
for another week. One of those votes may have to
come from a Republican. Bronx Democrat Ruben
Diaz continued to insist Sunday that he will not
vote for the bill that contains $300-million in cuts
to mental health and human service programs in
the coming year. The State Government will have
to shut down at midnight tonight if it fails to pass.

ZOOM

The Niagara Falls Inspections department will be
involved tomorrow as the ZOOM team conducts a
blitz of the area between Main and Whirlpool Streets,
beginning at Chilton Avenue and working along Ashland
Avenue and Spruce Streets to Cedar Avenue. Acting
Director of Code Enforcement Dennis Virtuoso says
every two weeks they go into a neighborhood. He said
it's a combined effort by the DPW, the police and fire
departments, and inspections and they look for
housing and zoning violations or anything that would
be covered by the property maintenance code. They
go from house to house and from property to
property. For example, those with high grass will be given three
days to cut it or it'll be done for them and they'll get
a bill. The Inspecttions Department found about
50 violations Saturday during it's own blitz on Falls
Street.

LEWISTON VILLAGE ELECTIONS

Seven candidates wil l be competing tomorrow for
four seats on the Village of Lewiston board. Two of them
are incumbents who were appointed to fill seats
after their occupants resigned to take seats on the
Town Board, and another replaced Bill Geiben when
he became mayor last Fall. Longtime Board member
Terry Collesano received both the Republican and
Democratic endorsements for Mayor and is running
unopposed. Voting will be from noon till 9 at the Village
Hall.

INLIGHTEN

The company that considered buying the three
stone buildings on Canal Street in Lockport
has bought a facility in Clarence. In Lighten
paid $2.15-million for a 45,000 square foot
facility at 9465 Wherle Drive. It closed Friday.
The Clarence Development Agency offered them
a special pilot plan including a ten year freeze on
property taxes and five years of sales tax relief.

PERSON OF INTEREST

A 45 year old man arrested Friday in Pennsylvania and
charged with two murders there...may be linked to an
unsolved slaying in Orleans County in 2007. Steven Patrick
Robert of Emporium, Pa. is being held without bail in the
murders of a man and a woman on April 12. Orleans County
officials say he's a "person of interest" in the shooting death
of 47 year old Kevin Smith in the Town of Shelby on Feb 9, 2007.

ON LINE BOOKINGS

A report cited by Niagara USA says more than half of the
tourists who visited the Falls during the last year booked
their reservations on the internet. The study was done by
Longwoods International. It said 58 per cent of travellers
booked their vacations to the region on-line, a figure that
is 17 per cent above the national average. Niagara Tourism
& Convention Corporation president & CEO John Percy
says they expanded their marketing on the web in
May of last year and their on-line reservation system
generated $750,000 in sales between then and May of
this year. Visitors can go to their site and get all their
work done in one spot rather than visiting multiple
sites to book rooms or to buy tickets for attractions.

OUTDOOR SERVICES & PICNIC

Lockport's Second Presbyterian Church will kick off
a summer of outdoor workship services Saturday night
that'll be followed by a picnic and special programming.
Commissioned lay pastor Barbara Cattrall Wallace says
the outdoor service will be at 5pm and the picnic begins
at 6. The Wrights Corners Presbyterians and the First Presbyterian
Church are joining them in contributing to the event. A special
program at 7 will feature guests from the network of biblical
storytellers and a bicycling group will talk about their
mission to travel from the Falls to New Orleans to raise
money for housing projects. The program on the following
Saturday, June 26, includes music from the McKenzie
Highlanders Pipes and Drums and there'll be free roast
beef sandwiches provided by Little Robbins Restaurant.
The outdoor services, picnic, and entertainment will
continue on Saturdays through September. There are
still opportunities for local musicians to perform and for
local restaurants to provide meals. Call 550-3607. The
chuch is at 71 Van Buren Street in Lockport.

ARTPARK

One of the most popular funk groups of the 70's
kicks off the 2010 free concert series tomorrow night
at Artpark in Lewiston. It'll be the second appearance
for War. They wrapped up the 2008 series with an
unforgettable jam session. Tomorrow night's opening
act will be "Then & Now." The show's free but it will
cost you $10 to park. It's also against the rules to carry
any food or beverages into the park. The opening act
starts the show at 6:30, but the venue opens at 4 for
children's activities.

FIFTIES NIGHT

It's 50's Night tonight at the Lockport Monday Night
cruise. President Pat Schrader says they try to get
more 50's vehicles and hope the attendees dress
in the style of the era. DJ Hank Nevins will play a
lot more 50's tunes than usual. Schrader says the
crowds have been good so far this year, some vendors
are reporting long lines and Schrader says they may
have to get some more picnic tables. It runs from 6 till 9
at Ida Fritz Park.